Working at The Athletic: Jobs, Benefits and Career Growth

Working at The Athletic can be an exciting career opportunity for people interested in sports journalism, digital media, technology, marketing, and sports storytelling. Owned by The New York Times Company, The Athletic is a subscription-based sports media organization known for in-depth reporting, expert analysis, investigative journalism, podcasts, and coverage of major sporting events.

The company hires professionals across several departments, including editorial, commercial operations, engineering, data, product design, and creative development. It also offers remote opportunities, although some positions have specific geographic requirements, particularly in the United States.

Is The Athletic hiring in 2026? Yes. Its official careers portal currently lists opportunities in areas such as business development, sales, data science, engineering, product design, and editorial internships. Applicants can explore available positions and submit applications through the company’s recruitment platform.

What Is The Athletic?

Its journalists cover professional and college sports, including football, basketball, baseball, hockey, soccer, and other major competitions. The publication also produces podcasts, videos, interviews, opinion pieces, and long-form investigative stories.

The company became part of The New York Times Company in 2022. This ownership has connected The Athletic with a larger media organization while allowing it to maintain its identity as a dedicated sports publication.

For employees, this creates opportunities to work in a specialized sports media environment that combines journalism with technology, subscription products, audience development, and digital publishing.

What Types of Jobs Are Available at The Athletic?

Some of the main career areas include:

1. Sports Writing and Journalism Jobs

Editorial positions are central to The Athletic’s business. Writers, reporters, editors, and journalists produce stories covering professional teams, college athletics, major sporting events, and developments within the sports industry.

Typical responsibilities include researching stories, interviewing athletes and coaches, attending sporting events, verifying information, developing sources, and producing accurate articles under editorial deadlines.

Applicants generally need strong writing skills, sports knowledge, reporting experience, and the ability to produce original journalism.

2. Editing and Editorial Management

Editors help maintain the quality and consistency of published content. They review articles, improve headlines, coordinate assignments, manage editorial schedules, and work with reporters to develop stronger stories.

Senior editorial positions may involve managing teams, planning coverage strategies, overseeing breaking news, and making important publishing decisions.

These opportunities are particularly suitable for experienced journalists who have developed strong editorial judgment and leadership skills.

3. Video and Podcast Production

The Athletic also produces sports-related video content and podcasts.

Employees in these departments may work on interviews, sports discussions, highlights, documentary-style features, audio production, editing, and digital distribution.

Candidates with experience in video editing, sound engineering, storytelling, production management, and social media content can explore these opportunities.

4. Technology and Engineering Jobs

The Athletic relies on digital technology to deliver its content to subscribers.

Engineering professionals help develop and maintain its website, mobile applications, subscription systems, publishing tools, and other digital products.

Relevant roles may include software engineers, iOS developers, infrastructure specialists, and technical product professionals.

5. Marketing and Business Development

Commercial teams help grow the company’s audience, develop partnerships, and generate revenue.

Typical responsibilities include managing business relationships, planning sales campaigns, identifying commercial opportunities, coordinating promotional activities, and improving customer engagement.

People with experience in advertising, media sales, business strategy, and account management may find these roles particularly relevant.

6. Data Science and Analytics

Data professionals help the company understand how readers interact with its content and digital products.

Their work may involve analyzing subscription behavior, developing reports, measuring audience engagement, identifying trends, and helping business teams make informed decisions.

Candidates with experience in Python, SQL, statistics, experimentation, and data visualization may be suitable for relevant openings.

Current Job Openings at The Athletic in 2026

The company’s recruitment portal currently lists several positions across different departments. The following are examples of roles appearing in its October 2026 listings.

Current opportunities · Official careers listings

These listings can change as positions are filled or new vacancies are published. Always check the official recruitment page for the latest availability.

Does The Athletic Offer Remote Jobs?

Remote opportunities available

Yes. The Athletic advertises remote positions in several departments, including commercial operations, data, engineering, editorial, and product development.

Remote work can be particularly attractive to professionals who prefer working from home rather than commuting to a traditional office. However, an important distinction is that a remote job does not necessarily mean a job that can be performed from anywhere in the world.

Many current remote vacancies specifically identify the United States as the eligible work location. Applicants living in Pakistan, India, the UK, or other countries should check the location and employment requirements before applying.

The company has also advertised hybrid and office-based positions, so working arrangements depend on the particular vacancy.

Salary: How Much Does The Athletic Pay?

The Athletic does not publish one universal salary structure because compensation depends on the position, professional experience, location, and level of responsibility.

Some vacancies include salary ranges, while others do not disclose compensation until later in the recruitment process.

For an indication of current advertised compensation, third-party listings have reported the following US salary ranges for selected positions:

These are reported US job-posting ranges, not guaranteed salaries or independently verified compensation for every employee.

What Factors Affect Salary?

Several factors can influence how much an employee earns at The Athletic.

Professional experience: Experienced journalists, engineers, managers, and business specialists may qualify for higher-level compensation.

Job responsibilities: Senior management and specialist technology positions generally carry different salary expectations from internships and entry-level roles.

Location: Compensation may vary according to the country or region where an employee is employed.

Technical skills: Experience with software development, data science, analytics, and digital product management can be valuable for specialist vacancies.

Applicants should review the compensation information included in each individual job advertisement rather than relying on general salary estimates.

Employee Benefits at The Athletic

Its careers information identifies several benefits for eligible employees, although exact coverage can depend on employment status and location.

Health Insurance

The company advertises employer-contributed medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans.

These benefits can help eligible employees manage healthcare expenses and access important services.

Paid Time Off

Paid time off and paid sick leave are included in the company’s advertised benefits.

This allows eligible employees to take time away from work for personal responsibilities, holidays, and illness.

Paid Parental Leave

The Athletic advertises 12 weeks of paid parental leave.

It also lists dependent-care support, including FSA daycare benefits and employer-contributed dependent coverage.

Retirement Benefits

The company’s US benefits package includes a 401(k) retirement savings plan.

Eligible employees can use this benefit to save toward long-term financial goals.

Additional Employee Benefits

Other advertised benefits include:

• Short-term and long-term disability coverage.

• Health savings accounts (HSA).

• Flexible spending accounts (FSA).

• Commuter benefits.

• Free access to The Athletic subscription.

The precise benefits available to an employee should be confirmed during recruitment because benefits may differ by location and eligibility.

Requirements to Work at The Athletic

The qualifications depend on the position, but most applicants need a combination of relevant experience, professional skills, and strong communication abilities.

Educational Background

Some positions require a bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience.

Journalism, communications, English, business, computer science, statistics, and design can be relevant educational backgrounds depending on the vacancy.

However, the specific job description determines whether a degree is mandatory.

Professional Experience

Editorial and management positions often require previous experience in journalism, publishing, sports reporting, or media production.

Technical positions may require professional experience with programming languages, software development, data analysis, or mobile application development.

Internships, meanwhile, may be designed for students who are still developing their professional experience.

Sports Knowledge

For editorial positions, a strong understanding of sports can be an important advantage.

Candidates should understand the teams, leagues, athletes, competitions, and wider issues associated with the sports they want to cover.

Communication Skills

Clear writing, research, collaboration, and communication are valuable across many departments.

Even technical employees may need to explain complex information to colleagues from commercial, editorial, or product teams.

Portfolio and Work Samples

Journalists, designers, video producers, and creative professionals should prepare examples of their previous work.

A strong portfolio can help recruiters understand an applicant’s abilities beyond what is written on a résumé.

How to Apply for Jobs at The Athletic – Step by Step

The Athletic accepts applications through its official online recruitment platform.

You do not need to send an application to an unofficial recruitment agent. Follow these steps to find an appropriate vacancy.

Step 1: Visit the Official Careers Website

Open The Athletic’s recruitment page:

Step 2: Choose Your Preferred Department

Browse the available departments, such as editorial, engineering, commercial, data, product, and creative development.

Choose a position that matches your professional background and interests.

Step 3: Check the Job Requirements

Open the vacancy and carefully read its responsibilities, qualifications, location restrictions, and employment arrangement.

Pay particular attention to whether the position is remote, hybrid, or office-based.

Step 4: Prepare Your Résumé

Create an updated résumé that highlights your relevant skills and professional experience.

For journalism positions, include writing samples or links to published articles. For technical positions, highlight relevant programming languages, projects, and technical achievements.

Step 5: Submit Your Application

Select the application option on the job listing.

Complete the requested information, upload your résumé, and provide any additional documents required by the employer.

Step 6: Complete Any Additional Assessments

Depending on the position, you may be asked to complete a writing exercise, technical assessment, interview, or portfolio review.

Prepare examples that demonstrate your ability to perform the responsibilities described in the vacancy.

Step 7: Wait for the Recruitment Team

After submitting your application, monitor your email for communication from the recruitment team.

If shortlisted, you may be invited to participate in additional interviews before a hiring decision is made.

Career Growth and Professional Development at The Athletic

Working at The Athletic can provide opportunities to develop skills across journalism, digital publishing, technology, and sports media.

The company’s career environment emphasizes independent storytelling, collaboration, professional credibility, and building an individual voice.

Opportunities for Promotion

Employees can potentially progress into senior positions as they gain experience and demonstrate strong performance.

For example, a journalist may develop into a senior reporter, editor, or editorial manager. Similarly, an engineer may progress into senior engineering or technical leadership roles.

Actual promotion opportunities depend on available positions, performance, and organizational needs.

Building a Professional Portfolio

One valuable aspect of working in sports media is the opportunity to develop a portfolio of professional work.

Journalists can build reporting experience, develop industry contacts, and establish credibility with readers. Designers and engineers can also gain experience working on products used by a large digital audience.

Learning From Experienced Professionals

Working alongside experienced journalists, editors, producers, and technical specialists can provide valuable professional exposure.

Employees may develop new skills through collaborative projects, editorial feedback, and practical experience with digital media products.

Is The Athletic a Good Company to Work For?

The Athletic offers several attractive features, particularly for people passionate about sports and digital media.

Its remote opportunities, healthcare benefits, paid parental leave, and specialized editorial environment make it worth considering.

However, prospective employees should also consider the demands of their chosen position. Sports journalism can involve evening and weekend work, breaking-news deadlines, travel, and event coverage.

Employee reviews on Glassdoor show a mixed picture, with a reported overall rating of 3.7 out of 5 based on 45 ratings. Reviews highlight positive experiences with colleagues and remote work, alongside concerns about management and work-life balance. These are individual opinions rather than a guarantee of any employee’s experience.

Can People From Pakistan Apply for The Athletic Jobs?

Yes, people living in Pakistan can explore The Athletic’s vacancies, but eligibility depends on the individual position.

This is an important distinction because many jobs labeled remote are specifically advertised for candidates based in the United States.

For applicants in Pakistan, the most relevant opportunities would be vacancies that explicitly accept international applicants or permit employment from Pakistan.

Before applying, check whether the employer requires US work authorization, local residency, or employment through a particular country-specific arrangement.

Having a good internet connection, a professional résumé, strong English communication skills, and relevant work samples can help strengthen an international application.

Do not assume that a US remote vacancy automatically permits working from Pakistan.

Frequently Asked Questions About Working at The Athletic

1. Is The Athletic hiring in 2026?

Yes. Its careers portal currently lists vacancies across commercial, editorial, engineering, product, and data departments.

2. Does The Athletic offer work-from-home jobs?

Yes. It advertises remote opportunities, although some are restricted to specific countries, particularly the United States.

3. How much does The Athletic pay?

Compensation depends on the position and location. Some advertised US professional roles have salary ranges exceeding $100,000 annually.

4. Does The Athletic provide health insurance?

Yes. Its advertised US benefits include medical, dental, vision, and life insurance for eligible employees.

5. Does The Athletic hire beginners?

Yes, it advertises student internships, including opportunities in editorial, sports business, and product design. Other entry-level opportunities depend on current vacancies.

6. Can I work as a sports writer at The Athletic?

Yes. Editorial positions are part of its recruitment structure. Applicants should demonstrate strong writing, reporting, research, and sports knowledge.

7. Does The Athletic offer paid internships?

It advertises paid student internship opportunities. For example, some 2027 internship listings include compensation of approximately $25 per hour, according to third-party job listings.

8. Is The Athletic owned by The New York Times?

Yes. The New York Times Company acquired The Athletic in 2022.

9. Can international applicants apply?

International applicants can explore vacancies, but they must satisfy each position’s geographic and employment eligibility requirements.

10. Where can I apply for The Athletic jobs?

The official recruitment portal is:

The Athletic Careers – Apply Online .

Final Thoughts

Working at The Athletic can be an attractive career choice for professionals who enjoy sports, journalism, technology, and digital media. The company offers opportunities across several departments, including writing, editing, engineering, business development, data science, and product design.

Its advertised employee benefits include healthcare coverage, paid time off, parental leave, retirement savings, and a complimentary subscription for eligible employees.

For job seekers, the most important step is finding a vacancy that matches their qualifications and location. Remote work is available, but international applicants should carefully review geographic restrictions before submitting an application.